From the Bishops

Please let in 10,000 more Syrian refugees

REFUGEESThe Anglican Church in Australia is pleading with the Government to allow another 10,000 refugees from Syria into Australia before Christmas.

September 4 2015The Anglican Church in Australia is pleading with the Government to allow another 10,000 refugees from Syria into Australia before Christmas.

The church has today written to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton offering to cooperate with the Government in any way it can to help resettle the refugees.

The letter is signed by Melbourne Bishop Philip Huggins, who chairs the national church’s Working Group on Refugees and Asylum seekers.

Bishop Huggins writes to Mr Abbott: “You will also be disturbed by the images from Europe of people fleeing the fighting in Syria. Given the lack of an immediate diplomatic or political solution to the crisis in Syria, can the Australian Government please make an additional allocation of 10,000 refugee places, specifically for people fleeing Syria? Would it be possible, via UNHCR, to bring these people to Australia before Christmas?

“You know that our Churches would want to cooperate with our Government to facilitate the settlement of these refugees as best we are able. The focus of Christmas would also provide an opportunity for exceptional generosity.”

Bishop Huggins concludes: “Be assured of my prayers and best wishes as you try to make the best decisions in difficult times.”